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Naveen Sultan of Telegraph21, ‘a new video magazine featuring the best documentary films and art videos from around the world’ passed this clip on to me (thank you!), which I would like to share with you. Here is a clip from ‘Cover Girl Culture,’ a documentary by Nicole Clark (producer/director/former Elite model.)

This documentary explores the world of fashion as well as the thoughts, feelings and self-critiques of young women affected by the messages that designers, models, advertisers, editors, magazines in general, etc. put out into the world. Many people in the Fashion Industry who are partially responsible for low self-esteem among young women (for showing unattainable body images for the average young woman) say they want to see ‘healthy, happy’ girls in their magazines and on the runway. Well, if you want to see them so bad, where are they? One young woman in the clip explains how magazines say, ‘Don’t worry about your weight, but look at this [pin-thin model.]’ This is an unfair, not to mention, confusing message. To those in the Fashion Industry, working for fashion magazines – You can not tell these girls, ‘You are beautiful because you are different, healthy is ‘in’, feel good about your body,’ etc. etc. when you are still only showing extremely thin women in your magazines.

All we’re asking is for you is to do what you say you’re going to do. Why can’t it be ‘in’ for young women around the world to read your magazines and while they’re reading, they see girls who look like them, girls they can identify with? Maybe it’s time to get in the mindset of – ‘When a young woman reads my magazine, she’s going to feel empowered, beautiful and happy.’ And by saying this I mean showing every type of young women – thin included. There are obviously all different body types, skin types, skin colors, hair/eye colors, etc. let’s help everyone feel included. A young woman’s ego, self-esteem and self-worth are so extremely important – magazines could play such a huge role in affecting these three things in a positive way, if taken seriously.